Flanked

by Cat Johnson

  “Sus…” Aaron let out a sigh. “I mean Silver, you don’t get it.”

  “Then explain it to me.” With a scowl, she folded her arms across her chest.

  Aaron mirrored his sister with the same pose. “Being a bull rider isn’t like being a football or baseball player. We don’t have a contract with a guaranteed paycheck for the season or even health insurance, at least not like you do through your job.”

  “You’ve got no health insurance coverage at all?” Her eyes had opened wide and her voice had risen a good octave. “Neither of you?”

  Garret jumped in to the debate before the two siblings got into it any further and caused a scene. “The organization takes out a limited policy on each of us in case we need to go to the hospital because we’re in a bad wreck during an event, but it’s not very much and it won’t cover something like my shoulder surgery and rehab.”

  “Not to mention that for the next six months Garret will be out of competition, which means no money coming in. No riding, no winning, no paychecks. That’s how this sport works,” Aaron continued.

  “Why don’t you buy yourself insurance?” She still looked shocked.

  “Yeah, right.” Garret snorted. “Even just the catastrophe insurance Mustang told me he got costs a damn fortune. And that has a huge deductible and such high co-pays it’s only worth it for major surgery.”

  “This is insane. This is America in the twenty-first century, for God’s sake. Every citizen in this country should have adequate affordable health coverage. You both pay taxes, don’t you?”

  Aaron let out a huff. “Uh, oh. Now she’s on her soapbox.”

  “Aaron, you have to agree with me.” Silver shook her head. “I can’t believe I didn’t know this.”

  “Of course I agree with you, but you and I can’t change the way the whole damn country is run. Even if we could, it wouldn’t happen in time for Garret’s surgery.”

  Silver got a faraway look in her eyes. “Hmm…”

  “Hmm, what?” Aaron narrowed his eyes at his sister.

  “Nothing.” Silver pursed her lips and shook her head.

  “When you get that look in your eye and say nothing, it scares me. Last time you had a bright idea, you legally changed your name to Silver.”

  Garret spun to look at the girl he’d spent the last two nights inside. “Your name’s not really Silver?” So much for thinking he knew her.

  “It is now. Legally.” She sent a look that could kill in her brother’s direction.

  Aaron scowled. “Just tell me what crazy idea you have up your sleeve. You going to storm the capital in Washington and demand health care and free surgery for all bull riders?”

  “I have nothing up my sleeve. I mean, of course I think it’s ridiculous you guys are riding underinsured, but what the hell can I do about it. Right?” Silver turned away from Aaron and focused back on Garret. “When can you leave here for the night?”

  He went to shrug and stopped in time before he hurt himself more. “Well, I’m thinking Tandy might not want me to ride again tonight even if I scored high enough to make the short go, which I probably didn’t. But I need to stick around until the end to sign autographs for the fans.”

  “Oh, the fans. Of course.” She got another strange look on her face at that, like the wheels inside her pretty little head were really spinning away, concocting all sorts of crazy plans. “Okay. Sounds good.”

  “Why?” Garret frowned, now as suspicious as Aaron.

  “Just wondering what we’re doing after. I’m new to this kind of stuff. I don’t know if bad news calls for a wild night of shots or for a quiet night in.”

  Garret laughed. “I’m not sure yet.”

  Skeeter skidded in from the hall and came to a stop just inside the doorway. “Aaron. You’re in the short go. Get out here.”

  Aaron looked from Garret to Silver. “Crap. I gotta go.”

  “It’s fine. I can find my way back to my seat.”

  Garret caught Skeeter’s gaze. “What about me? Did I make the short go?”

  Skeeter cringed. “Sorry, bud. No.”

  “Oh. Okay, thanks.” Not that he should have been riding with his shoulder feeling the way it did anyway, but the answer still disappointed Garret.

  When Aaron left the room on Skeeter’s heels, Silver leaned her heart-shaped ass next to him on the edge of the examining table. They were so close her thigh touched his. He felt the heat from the contact. Funny how he still could admire the shape of her ass and think about her touching him even in his current state of misery.

  She drew in a deep breath. “Okay, so here’s my plan.”

  “All right. Shoot.” Somehow he’d had a feeling there’d be a plan. What it entailed, he had no clue, but he could hope that sex was involved.

  “We encourage all the guys to go out to the bar next door. Then once we’re there, you tell the guys that you’re really not in the mood to stay out because of your injury and all, or maybe because it’s starting to hurt really bad, and you’re going back to the hotel. That’s when I say that I’m tired too and I go with you.”

  Apparently Silver’s plan was to soothe his woes with some sexual healing. That was fine with him. No wonder she hadn’t wanted to tell Aaron her agenda for the evening. “All right. We’ll give it a try. As long as Aaron and Skeeter don’t decide to come back with us.”

  “Well, I have an idea for that too.”

  “Oh? Another plan, huh?” He was almost afraid to ask. This girl’s mind was temptingly evil and she lied like it was second nature. He found it strangely attractive.

  “Yup.” Silver looked so smug it made Garret laugh.

  “And? Are you going to tell me?”

  “You’ll see what it is when we’re out tonight. I’m gonna go.” She hooked a thumb in the direction of the hallway. “You know, gotta watch big bro ride in this short merry-go-round or whatever it’s called.”

  Garret shook his head and grinned at her effort. She was trying to embrace the bull-riding lingo, and messing it up so badly it was endearing.

  “Of course. You don’t wanna miss the short go.” Garret doubted that was totally the reason she was making her exit. Completing preparations for her plan might have something to do with it though.

  He smiled at the thought of what Silver could possibly have up her sleeve all so they could be alone together later. His career was done—for the next six months anyway—and Silver still had him smiling. Sure, he’d do his best to finish the season, but it wouldn’t be good. And the start of next season was out. But with a few words and one devilish smile, she’d lightened the weight that had settled in his chest during his conversation with Tandy.

  Somehow, that wasn’t as surprising to him as it should be. Deciding just to accept it all as it came, no matter what, Garret hopped off the table and headed out to watch the short go.

  A few rides to watch and a couple of dozen autographs later, the riders and Leesa and Silver stood in a group by the exit.

  “So what are we doing?” Skeeter asked.

  Garret didn’t miss Silver’s eyes opening a bit wider—her not-so-subtle reminder for him about their plan. He cleared his throat and launched into his prepared speech. “Um, well I was thinking I could use a nice stiff drink after tonight.”

  There was something stiff in his future, but it didn’t contain alcohol. He hid his smile at his own wit, even while glancing quickly at Silver and wishing he could share his little juvenile joke with her.

  Aaron nodded. “Don’t blame you there, bud. I’d probably need a bottle if I were you. Just a drink might not do it.”

  Silver stepped forward into the middle of the group. “How about we go to the bar across the street? I mean, it couldn’t be more convenient. Then we won’t have to even move the trucks. You know, in case somebody wanted to leave early or something.”

  She tilted her head toward where Chase and Leesa stood nearby talking, as if the couple who only had eyes for each other would probably be re
tiring to the privacy of their bedroom sooner rather than later. Garret knew exactly who was going to be leaving for the hotel early tonight. It was the last couple anyone in the group would even suspect of being together, because so far he and Silver had been pretty good at sneaking around. He saw Silver glance at him again, brows raised expectantly. Crap. Apparently he was supposed to participate again, maybe back her up on the choice of location.

  “Um, sure, across the street’s fine.” He nodded a bit too enthusiastically. “They, uh, even had a drink special tonight, I think. I saw a sign in the window on the drive over.”

  Satisfied he’d done a good job and the lying was over, at least for the next few minutes, he let out a breath. This deception crap was too much damn work.

  He pictured getting Silver in his hotel room alone where there were lights so he could actually see her and space so they weren’t crushed up against his truck door or the cement-block wall of the arena. His shoulder still hurt like hell, but the icepack strapped with a bandage under his shirt helped numb it a bit. It wouldn’t get in the way of his night with Silver. Maybe he wouldn’t be hoisting her up tonight, but lying down would be just fine. His cock started to wake up, like it always did when he thought about her.

  Yeah, it would be worth all the stress and lies it took to get them alone in his room tonight. No doubt about it.

  The group crossed the road and soon they were pushing through the door of the bar. Garret surveyed the situation. The place was packed. It looked as if both fans and riders had chosen to go there. They needed a table or an open spot at the bar with at least two empty stools they could pull next to each other so Leesa and Silver could sit—at least until he and Silver made their escape.

  As he assessed where to steer the group, two girls came through the crowd aiming directly at them, all smiles and big boobs. Garret stopped dead in his tracks. Crap. The last thing he needed was for some girl to hit on him here and now. If he went along with it, no doubt Silver would be pissed. If he didn’t, the guys would be suspicious because he’d never turned down the opportunity to flirt with a hot buckle bunny.

  He watched in horror as the two made a beeline toward him and the others just inside the door. Garret dared to shoot a sideways glance at Silver. She was smiling, her own gaze trained on the girls’ approach. Garret frowned. What the hell was going on here?

  Some crazy thoughts hit him. Silver could get a little freaky. She’d wanted to have sex in the stairwell of their hotel. Then all the piercings and tattoos. The leather and the Harley. He wouldn’t put it past her to be into a threesome. He eyed the two girls who’d stopped in front of them. Make that a foursome. Garret swallowed hard.

  He’d always dreamed of some girl-on-girl action with him in the middle, but this was Silver, Aaron’s sister. He shouldn’t have touched her at all, but he really, really shouldn’t be leading her into anything like this.

  Leading—who the hell was he kidding? Garret had no control here. Silver was the one in the driver’s seat. He was just along for the journey, lucky if he even got to ride shotgun. There was no letting or not letting Silver do anything.

  This had truly been the most surreal week of his life. It started with him nearly going blind by seeing his father getting a blowjob in their kitchen, and had gotten impossibly weirder from the moment Silver had strutted her leather-covered ass into his hotel room.

  “Hey, we have a table. Do you guys wanna join us?” Girl number one, the one whose nipples stuck out far and hard enough they could easily support Garret’s hat should he choose to hang it there, spoke directly to Aaron.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty crowded, but we got here early.” Number two, her blonder-than-blond hair beginning to show dark roots, explained that directly to Skeeter, who looked like he’d swallowed his tongue.

  “Uh, um…” Skeeter looked wide eyed to Aaron for backup.

  “Sure, we’d love to join you. It’s okay if my sister and my friends join us, right?”

  “Of course, any sister of yours is a friend of mine.” Nipple girl smiled seductively and shot Silver a friendly look, which she returned warmly.

  The group moved toward the back but Garret held Silver back. He had a feeling she was involved in this somehow. “What did you do?”

  “I’m just working to build fan-rider relations. In fact, the fan club should probably thank me for this one.” Silver grinned wide.

  “You—” Garret shook his head. Pieces were beginning to fall into place.

  He wasn’t sure exactly how it had gone down, but judging by how they’d singled Skeeter and Aaron out of the group, and had acted like Silver was no stranger, he was pretty sure Silver had arranged this back at the arena. At least it was nothing kinky. She was playing matchmaker, not porno producer. Thank God for that. He could ignore his cock had temporarily reacted to the concept of being with her and the two girls. He was a man, after all.

  “Stop looking so shocked or you’ll give us away. Now, you’re up. Start holding your shoulder like it hurts. And wince a little. That way maybe we can get out of here before the first round of drinks. Or no, scratch that. You’d better have a quick drink or two before we go back.” Her eyes took on an expression that, if he had to describe it, he’d have to say was smoldering. Centerfold worthy for sure, even with her being fully clothed.

  He narrowed his eyes at her. “And why is that?”

  “Because I like how long you last when you’ve had a few.” With that, Silver shot him a glance over her shoulder and flounced off toward the table, leaving Garret once again speechless in her wake.

  Chapter Ten

  “I can’t believe how smooth that worked.” Silver pushed him backward across his room. “Aaron and Skeeter aren’t leaving that bar anytime soon. Not with those two all over them.”

  Garret laughed. “No, but I bet what they are doing is trying to figure out where to take them because you and I are in their rooms.”

  “Little do they know we only need one room.” She looked devilish as she said it.

  He wasn’t quite as confident in their privacy as Silver. “What do we do if they come back and find you in here with me?”

  “Simple. I came in to see if you needed me to get you ice or ibuprofen for your shoulder. I’m a nurturer, remember? School teachers can’t help it.”

  He shook his head and laughed. “My head knows you teach little kids, but the rest of me is having trouble wrapping around that concept.”

  “Don’t worry about it too much, because I’ve got a few things that will wrap very nicely around a certain part of you.” Silver undid his belt buckle as she spoke.

  Garret lay on the bed and let her take control. Not only did he suspect she liked to be in charge, his shoulder hurt too damn much for him to wrestle with her over who got to be on top. Hell, she could definitely be on top the rest of the night—sitting on his cock. Sitting on his face. Either one or both.

  His erection sprang up as she released it from his jeans and underwear.

  “So I was thinking…”

  “Mmm, hmm.” That was all he could manage while he watched her slide her lips over his cock.

  She slid back up and off the tip of him, her eyes focused on his face as she did. A shiver ran up his spine from her gaze alone as his length popped out of her mouth. “You need this shoulder operation, right?” She continued like this was a perfectly normal conversation to have during a blowjob.

  “Yeah.” Garret frowned. She wanted to talk about this now? Just when his cock was very happy, she was putting a damper on the rest of him.

  “I have excellent health insurance.” Silver ran her tongue up the underside of him until she reached the slit at the top.

  “That’s good. Wish I did.” He hissed in a breath as she concentrated on torturing him by sliding just the very tip of her tongue in and out of the top of his cock.

  “That’s the point. You should and you can.” After that proclamation, she slid him all the way in until he hit the back of her throat.
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  “I can’t afford as much coverage as I’d need. I’m not exactly—oh God—a good risk.” Garret barely got the words out as she added a hand to the mix and palmed his balls.

  “So here’s the plan. You marry me, I add you to my insurance, you get the operation, then we can get a divorce afterward when you don’t have any more doctor bills.” She delivered that bombshell, then went back to sucking and stroking Garret so hard he would probably have come if the words marry me weren’t echoing so loudly in his head.

  “What?” He reached down and grabbed her head, pulling her off his cock. In any other situation he normally wouldn’t let anything interfere with his shooting off in this incredible girl’s mouth, but there was nothing normal about this situation.

  She sat up on her knees, still fully dressed, which was good. If Aaron or Skeeter walked in, at least the only thing he’d have to do is fix his jeans. Though after what she’d just said, he wasn’t sure he had the presence of mind to even do that much.

  “I can add you to my insurance as my husband.”

  That was the craziest idea he’d ever heard. They’d known each other for three days. Sure they’d acted like newlyweds on a honeymoon, all over each other, but still… He swallowed hard. “Wouldn’t that be insurance fraud?”

  “No. Why would it be? Insurance fraud would be like if you pretended to be someone else and used his name and his insurance. Or like if you pretended to be hurt and got disability when you were really fine and could work.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What’s the problem? We’ll actually be married legally. No one says we have to stay married forever or even love each other. Hell, look at the divorce rate. We’re already having sex so we’d consummate the marriage to, you know, seal the deal.”

  The word consummate made it seem even more real. “But—”

  “Garret, it’s not a big deal. I have insurance. You need it. That’s the extent of it.”

  “What about Aaron?”